Institutional Web Management Workshop 2003:Talks and Workshop Sessions
Institutional Web Management Workshop 2003:This page gives the details of the plenary talks and the parallel sessions at the Instituional Web Management Workshop 2003.
Note that a total of 6.75 hours of plenary talks were held.
Please note that a booking form for the parallel sessions is available.
Also note that an RSS feeds for the plenary talks and parallel sessions are available.
Speaker: Professor David Melville, University of Kent
Abstract:
The recent Government White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" has a theme
of collaboration running through it. David will be considering first the
implications of collaboration for UK HE. Secondly he will consider those
implications that he believes will greatly benefit from the support that Web-based
technologies and interfaces can provide. Lastly, he will take a look at how you,
delegates to IWMW 2003, can ensure your full participation in these exciting
opportunities through learning how to manage your senior management.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: John Burke, University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Abstract:
This session introduces JISCinfoNet - the Centre of Expertise in the Planning and
Implementation of Information Systems. This is a new JISC-funded service providing
advice and guidance to managers and practitioners in further and higher education.
The presentation will focus on Web management as part of an institutional
information strategy and will consider the implications of new legislation,
particularly the Freedom of Information Act, for Web Managers Supporting our Users.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: David Supple, University of Birmingham
Abstract:
This presentation focuses on the processes and methodologies used by the Web Team
in Birmingham to calm the chaotic Web environment that was inherited in 1999
through common infrastructures and a solid corporate Web vision. After almost
two years of bridge building, hard selling and coming to terms with a site
spread over hundreds of Web servers, the presentation will demonstrate how over
two thirds of the University has now moved back into the Corporate fold whilst
building a new sense of community.
More than just a focus on current technologies however, the presentation will
also detail the strategic planning and costs involved and how the future of
the user experience at Birmingham over the next two years will change dramatically
with the inception of a major new Portal and CMS project.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: Sarah Agarwal, University of Bristol
Abstract:
This talk will bring together the topics of usability, portals and development
strategies in a call for an early focus on users in major institutional development
projects.
Sarah will talk about the benefits of doing a user requirements analysis exercise
as part of any large scale Web / application development project and describe some
of the methods that can be used. The University of Bristol's portal project will
be the case study for the talk.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: Dave Beckett plus Brian Kelly
Abstract:
This talk will provide an update to the latest development in the World Wide Web
architecture and provide an introduction to the Semantic Web. XML is just one of
the Web technologies that are available and semantic Web technologies based on
RDF provide complementary functionality. These can be used inside organisations
to address needs such as capturing and connecting key institutional information
across different systems as well as externally.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: Gareth McAleese, University of Ulster and Ricky Rankin, Queen's University Belfast
Abstract:
The University of Ulster (UU) and Queen's University Belfast (QUB) have both
started to apply content management systems to aid the further development of
their Web site content. Both have taken a different approach, QUB to buy in a
custom developed solution and UU to develop a solution in-house. This talk will
explore the approach taken by both and examine the issues and benefits of both approaches.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: Steve Musgrave, Blackpool and The Fylde College
Abstract:
Community Portals have been heralded as a mechanism for improving services to
citizens, creating access to government services, supporting e-learning, and
promoting social cohesion. Research suggests that there are technical barriers
to linking back-office systems, enabling self-service interactivity for learners
and citizens. This presentation gives an appraisal of existing capability,
including presentation via iDTV, and suggests a future direction for community
portals in the context of Public Information Networks.
Materials: Slides and accompanying paper
Speaker: Alejandro Armellini, University of Kent
Abstract:
The prospect of enhancing existing educational services and offering new ones
across physical and time boundaries, reaching new markets and increasing revenue,
appears to lure educational administrators.
National and international competition for students now seems within grasp of
most academic institutions.
Exploiting the potential of e-learning technologies has proven to be more complex
than foreseen. This paper provides a framework and a rationale for e-learning
projects and presents ideas for implementation.
Materials: Slides
Speaker: Professor Mark Stiles, University of Staffordshire
Abstract:
Technology is probably one of the least problematic parts of introducing
"eLearning" to an institution. Many of the most difficult areas may only become
apparent after the technology has been in use for a while. Mark will discuss the
issues of embedding eLearning into the policies, procedures, organisation and
culture of an educational establishment, based on his own current experience of
trying to produce a complete eLearning "Roadmap" at Staffordshire University.
Materials: Slides
Note that a total of 35.5 hours of parallel sessions were held.
Note that sessions A1-A9 will be held on Wednesday 11th June 2003 from 16:00-17:30.
Facilitator: Ian Upton, University of Birmingham
Abstract:
This workshop will provide the opportunity to explore the issues surrounding the
implementation of a University Web strategy.
Using a model developed at the University of Birmingham we will explore issues
surrounding 'developing production services', 'getting and maintaining content'
and 'supporting users'.
As well as the 'nuts and bolts', the workshop will provide the opportunity to
consider the unique challenges presented by the University environment.
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Chris Awre, JISC
Abstract:
Institutions provide access to information through a multitude of different
systems that have often been developed in isolation. Many of these are nowadays
delivered via the Web. With staff and students requiring access to different
types of information for their work and study, this approach can lead to a lot
of wasted or duplicated effort. Integrating such systems enhances the flow of
information and can support the learning, teaching, and research roles of the
institution. But how far should integration go and how will this affect the
delivery of information via the Web? Can the Web be used as the means for
integration or should it remain a window onto integration performed at a different
level? The advent of institutional portals and managed learning environments
offer solutions to these questions, but there appear to be pros and cons to
all of these. This workshop session will provide a forum for the discussion of
how the Web can best be used in integrating previously distinct information systems.
Different perspectives will be presented to set out the ground, followed by an
open discussion on the different paths being followed by institutions and the
options and issues involved in deciding which path is most appropriate.
Facilitator: Sarah Agarwal, ILRT, University of Bristol
Abstract:
While project managers, developers and designers generally recognise the value of
user input to their projects, they are often frustrated by lack of resource or
expertise to get this input, and end up settling for having an occasional user
group or running a quick survey.
This session will provide an opportunity for participants to explore effective
approaches and techniques for gathering users' requirements on a budget and
within practical timescales. The session will expand on some of the techniques
used by the facilitator and which she describes in her plenary talk. Experiences
and anecdotes from participants will also be sought.
Facilitator: Andrew Cox, University of Loughborough
Abstract:
This workshop will be an opportunity to develop ideas about how to increase ICT
supported collaboration, for example, among departmental Webmasters or across
institutions. It will build on our common knowledge about the effectiveness of
familiar forum software such as JISCmail, or YahooGroups. We will look at the
theory of community of practice, which suggests some key processes that need to
be supported for collaboration, and criteria for evaluating the success and
health of online knowledge sharing communities. The session will also look at
what value less obvious collaboration tools such as blogs and annotation tools
can contribute to the mix.
Facilitator: Helen Sargan, University of Cambridge
Abstract:
How can you provide the type of search facility your institution wants, needs
and can afford, or do you need different functionality for different data?
An overview of the options and issues and new developments in search engines,
with exercises and answers to some of your most troubling questions.
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Paul Browning, University of Bristol
Abstract:
The Web is over ten years old but it still hasn't realised the vision of its founder
Tim Berners-Lee:
"... it should be possible for grandma to take a photo of grandchildren
and put it on the web immediately and without fuss ...".
This year's Workshop theme is "Supporting Our Users". But why do we continue to make
a rod for our own backs by providing our users with such an inferior set of often
expensive and bloated authoring tools? This session will review the technologies
- within browser editing and drag-and-drop publishing - that will allow us to
deliver, at last, a write-enabled and supportable Web.
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: David Sweeney and Anne Uttley a Royal Holloway, University of London
Abstract:
Meeting the expectations of many and serving the needs of all is a tough call.
How does an institutional Web site become a dynamic fusion of big picture priorities,
devolved participation of stakeholders and positive PR? This interactive session
will focus on practical techniques for redeveloping a Web site and keeping the
users on your side.
At Royal Holloway, University of London, our Web team philosophy is about
building confidence through shared aims, supportive management and developing
in-house skills. Our focus is on promoting a vision of the Web that is
user-friendly and based on user needs, coordinating online services to enhance
internal and external interaction. We've learnt from good and bad experiences
and are willing to share them ... are you?
Facilitator: Trish Murray and Chris Young, Netskills, University of Newcastle
Abstract:
This session will discuss the issues surrounding the topic of training and
accreditation for Managers and Providers of Web content. Whether you are new to
Web Content Management and needing to develop your skills in order to perform
your role or are more experienced and looking to gain accreditation, this session
will be of interest to you. The discussion will include:
Facilitator: Catherine Ewart, PPARC/NERC
Abstract:
The UK Research Councils and the Arts and Humanities Research Board are running
a joint project to deliver electronic submission facilities to researchers and
research administrators within universities. In parallel, the concept of a
research councils web portal is being developed, to provide joined-up access to
a wide range of research council information and services. This workshop will
review progress on these developments and explore the issues surrounding the
introduction of these new facilities. Areas for discussion include:
Note that sessions B1-B8 will be held on Thursday 12th June 2003 from 16:00-17:30.
Facilitator: Tracey Stanley, University of Leeds
Abstract:
This session will assess the role which library staff can play in supporting the
development of institutional Web sites. Library staff have always played a critical
role in the facilitation of access to a wide range of information resources;
and have used 'traditional' skills such as cataloguing and classification to organise,
describe and index these materials.
In a digital environment, Library skills are becoming increasingly relevant in
supporting the development of institutional web presences. Librarians have a role
to play in finding, assessing and validating digital resources. They are also
becoming increasing involved in the creation and management of digital content
- for example, in the setting up and managing of e-print archives. Librarians
are also becoming skilled at creating digital 'pathways' for their users, guiding
them to the resources most likely to be of interest to them in a learning or
research context.
The session will aim to identify the emerging roles for Library staff in supporting
the development of the institutional Web, and will look at associated issues such
as skills development and cultural change.
Facilitator: Melissa Highton and Richard Jones, University of Leeds
Abstract:
This session will cover some of the issues faced by centrally located staff who
are involved in supporting academic staff who are implementing e-learning.
Academic staff increasingly look towards central units for advice in areas of Web
accessibility, usability and staff development for e-learning and e-learning resources.
What implications does this have for our own practice and the training we provide?
In the light of SENDA, how do we know if we are 'reasonably adjusted'?
Facilitator: Paul Anderson and Gaynor Backhouse, University of Nottingham
Abstract:
There is an increasing number of developments in links between university
research/expertise, and business and the wider community, through funding routes
such as HEROBC. There is also a demand from regional agencies such as RDAs and
BusinessLinks for systems and pathways that increase access to HEIs. At the
European level there is the eContent initiative and CERIF Data Model.
This workshop will allow interested parties and birds of a feather to discuss
developments in these areas and compare proposed solutions and best practice.
It will be a highly interactive session that will take its lead from participants
describing their local directory of expertise and its limitations. Issues that
could be covered include - the rights and wrongs of linking systems; translation
between academia and business; use of metadata; etc.
Facilitators: Marieke Guy, UKOLN and Anne McCombe, MIMAS
Abstract:
Quality and reliability are two of the most critical aspects of any Web site. Yet
there are so many problem areas for Web site builders to stumble on from human
error in page creation to browser consideration and accessibility issues.
Ensuring that these concerns are addressed takes time and effort. This workshop
will discuss Quality Assurance procedures for Web sites. Participants will be
asked to consider what can go wrong on their Web site, why exactly things are
going wrong, how Web site owners can find out when things go wrong and finally
what can be done when things have gone wrong. In this session we will consider
how you can integrate important QA aspects, like testing, into your current
evaluation procedures and in doing so significantly improve your Web site, its
infrastructure and content.
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Mike Lowndes, Natural History Museum
Abstract:
This session will discuss various approaches to searching the localised 'deep Web'
from optimising for Google, through metadata harvesting to dynamic distributed
queries, with examples from ongoing work at The Natural History Museum.
The goal of this work is simply to reduce the number of times users need to type
in a query to return all relevent, accurate online resources.
The session will cover:
Facilitator: Bill Hubbard
Abstract:
This session will look at the idea of institutional e-print repositories. This
is an idea whose time has come, with a lot of institutions currently working on
establishing their own research repositories. Topics to be discussed will include:
Facilitator: Mark Stiles, University of Staffordshire
Abstract:
The overwhelming victory for the open source lobby in the
debate
at last year's Institutional Web Management workshop confirms the popularity of
open source software in the Web community. But the availability of open source
products is not in itself a guarantee of quality software. What are the risks
and issues for both the developers and users of such products? How many people
actually want open source as opposed to "free" binaries - albeit with a community
of developers backing it up?
In this session Mark Stiles will provide a forum to discuss these issues.
The session is suitable both for open source developers and for those who may
have an interest in using open source software. (Mark would like to stress that
he hasn't been a "programmer" for a very long time and claims no expertise in
the technical aspects of Open Sourcing!)
Facilitator: Rob Bristow, University Of Bristol (and formerly Cass Business School)
Abstract:
Cass Business School (formerly City University Business School) recently migrated
the management of their Web site to a commercial Content Management System (CMS) -
Merant Collage.
This session will examine the drivers for this process - the requirements and
constraints, and will use Collage to demonstrate some of the fundamental aspects
of Content Management Systems and their role in information management in
Higher Education.
This session will be of use to anyone considering the adoption of a CMS.
Materials: Workshop materials
Note that sessions C1-C8 will be held on Friday 13th June 2003 from 09:15-10:30.
Facilitator: Steve Musgrave, Blackpool and The Fylde College
Abstract:
Learning Environments are becoming established in many Schools, Colleges and
Universities. This workshop session introduces the concept of a 'Vertical Learning
Environment' and examines the issues surrounding the sharing of access to learning
resources in multi-institutional contexts; and into the wider community.
Following an overview of the business drivers, the implementation issues will
be explored through a case study of development underway to adapt the
Granada Learnwise VLE to a 'Communitywise' portal.
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Anne Rushworth, University of Kent
Abstract:
It has long been recognised that managing people is a key area for Web experts
within education. If it isn't managing your staff, then managing the people you
collaborate with on projects, learning how to persuade and negotiate or even
upwards managing your manager or other people's managers are all necessary skills.
This session aims to help you share your people management issues and become
more aware of what staff development opportunities there are for you via your
insitution. This session will finish by making recommendations for staff
development agencies, UKOLN and institutional staff development teams on how to
target meaningful people management training at Web teams across the country.
Facilitator: Tom Franklin, TechLearn
Abstract:
All institutions make widespread use of ICT for both learning and teaching and
L&T support. Many institutions in the US now require their students to have
their own laptop (and a fair number of these supply them to the students so that
they all have the same model).
The introduction of top up fees in the UK mean that is now likely to start here
for a number of reasons, including the widespread use of ICT in learning and
teaching means that personal access to the equipment at all times is becoming
important equity (all students will have the same access to resources so that
some are not disadvantaged) return to students - the cost of supplying all
students with their own laptop is generally estimated to be about twice the cost
of widespread internal provision because of savings in equipment, space and support.
Thus the institution can be seen to be supplying something that actually costs
them considerably less than it appears. The discussion will start with a brief
presentation of the issues followed including security, non-work related use,
portals and policies followed by a discussion of issues of interest to those present.
Facilitator: Lorna Campbell, University of Strathclyde
Abstract:
This session will provide a broad over view and update on recent activities in the
field of learning technology interoperability standards and specifications, along
with a brief summary of the Centre for Educational Technology Interoperability
Standard's role in supporting the UK FE/HE community's uptake and implementation
of these standards. LT standards are open standards that are designed to
facilitate the description, packaging, sequencing and delivery of educational
content, learning activities and learner information. This session will include
an introduction to new standards and specifications recently released by
organisations including IMS Global Learning Consortium, the Institute for
Electronic and Electrical Engineers Learning Technology Standards Committee,
Advanced Distributed Learning and the Comité Européen de Normalization/Information
Society Standardisation System Workshop - Learning Technologies.
The update session will take the form of an introductory presentation followed
by a questions and answer session and discussions.
Facilitator: Diane McDonald, University of Strathclyde
Abstract:
"Struggling to integrate new services with existing applications? Need to interoperate
with other institutions or service providers, all with different systems infrastructures?
Fed up of the spiralling costs application development?"
Media hype suggests that Web Services Technologies may provide the answer!
Web Services Technologies is essentially a framework of self contained, modular
applications, which can be published, discovered and executed over the network by
remote programs, using lightweight protocols.
This workshop aims to provide an overview of the technologies involved and consider
possible future usage within UK HE and FE. Group discussions will be used to:
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Kriss Fearon, University of York
Abstract:
Because of the way the Web has developed, Web editors are often in the position
not only of having to update their content but also to upgrade the way in which
their information is formatted. Often there is time only to respond to demands
which are highest up the list, accessibility being the most recent example.
However, it is only one among many criteria for evaluating the quality of
information provision. This session will examine the provision of information
as a publishing process, incorporating accessibility into the process of
evaluation, and discuss methods of developing effective and successful
working practices.
Facilitators: Ingrid Evans and George Neisser, University Of Manchester
Abstract:
The past few years have witnessed the continued relentless growth of dynamic Web
content, multimedia and real-time applications over JANET and an expansion of
the JANET community to include the Further Education (FE) sector.
Bandwidth Management has now become increasingly important and an understanding
of such techniques and policy can help Web managers overcome some of the problems
associated with the delivery of dynamic Web content. In this session we'll
talk about techniques and policy issues related to managing streaming media and
data compression. We will also show you how to make your non-dynamic content
load quicker and faster (thereby hopefully making you visitors experience a
happy one!) by looking at how to make your Web site cacheable. We'll also discuss
the pros and cons of Web acceleration, which together with the above techniques,
should enable you to give your Web site an overall fine tune.
This session will be facilitated by George Neisser and Ingrid Evans from the
newly formed
Bandwidth Management Advisory Service (BMAS).
Materials: Workshop materials
Facilitator: Jean Steward, UEA
Abstract:
Getting and managing projects is an important part of the ICT environment in
Higher and Further Education. Success is dependent upon finding and developing
the right people and ensuring good interaction between project-based staff and
permanent staff in the organisation.
After a short introduction, highlighting some of the key issues raised in the
"Resolving the Human Issues
in LIS projects" report, the session will discuss the "people side" of projects
including:
Facilitator: Dave Beckett, ILRT, University of Bristol
Abstract:
The Semantic Web Birds of a Feather session will provide a chance to get the
details of the W3C semantic web activity work, updates from the World Wide Web
conference, further detail on applications and tools (particularly open source ones)
and how they are used in projects and institutions.
Last modified: 18th Dec 2003